Egg packing material



' June 19, 1945. J. R. GRANT v EGG PACKING MATERIAL Filed May 23, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,w WI

. INVENTOR. Y Jesififiranf, 3 37 J1me 1945- J. R. GRANT EGG PACKING MATERIAL Filed May 25, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. R. GRANT EGG PACKING MATERIAL June 19, 1945.

' Filed May 23, 1942; 5 Shets-Sheet s "June 19, 1945. J, R, GRANT 2,378,627

EGG PACKING MATERIAL Filed May 23, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 p V JML fii 7 INVENTOR.

Jesse]? Gfarll? June 19, 1945. I GRANT 2,378,627

EGG PACKING MATERIAL IN VEN TOR.

.BYIY

Patented June 19, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EGG PACKING MATERIAL Jesse R. Grant, Chicago, 111. Application May 23, 1942, Serial No. 444,194

6- Claims.

This invention relates to packing material for eggs and other fragile objects of ovate shape and has for its principal object the provision of a new and improved packing material of this kind.

It is a main object of the invention to provide a packing material formed of molded pulp and arranged to reduce the amount of pulp required for packing a case.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of a filler flat arranged to fit in an egg case and to support eggs therein in the manner of standard packing in contrast to stagger packing now used with filler flats.

A further object of the invention is to provide a packing material adapted to fit into the egg case and support and protect eggs therein with one more piece of packing material per section of the case than there are layers of eggs in the case.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- Figure 11 is an elevational view, partly in section, and illustrating the manner of building up vide a filler fiat which permits commercial handling of eggs in accordance with accepted practices.

Further objects of the invention, not specifically mentioned here, will be apparent from the detailed description and claims which 'follow, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the bottom pad member for one section of an egg case;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, lookin in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows:

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a plan view of one pattern of filler flat;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-'-6 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1-4 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a second pattern of filler fiat;

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the layers within a section of an egg case;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of the invention;

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I3l3 of Figure 12, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the diagonal line I 4l4 of Figure 12, looking in the direction of the arrows: and

Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line l5l5 of Figure 12, looking in the direction of the arrows and combined with a fragment of the pad shown in Figure 2.

Eggs are now packed in standard cases which hav two compartments and five layers of eggs are placed in each compartment, each layer containing thirty-six eggs that are arranged in rows with six eggs in a row. Each compartment of the case holds fifteen dozen eggs, making a total of thirty dozen eggs for the case, To protect the eggs and at the same time hold them in uniform rows and layers in the compartment, fillers and flats are commonly employed, the flats consisting of a generally planar member having thirty-six egg cups arranged in six parallel rows with six cups in each row. The fillers are cell case fillers that rest upon a lower fiat extending between the eggs supported in the cup on that flat and support an upper fiat in fixed relation with respect to the lower fiat and eggs. In a packing Of this kind, each compartment contains one more fiat than there are layers in the compartment, that is, it contains six flats; in addition, it contains as many fillers as there are layers, that is, five fillers, making a total of eleven pieces for each compartment of the case. These pieces are all composed of paper or pulp material and the packing of this kind is disadvantageous on account of the present shortage of Pulp.

In the prior art of which I am aware, various efforts have been made to overcome this ob- Jection by cutting down the amount of pulp required in packing a compartment. In one case, a stagger pack has been used, that is, the eggs of a second layer are placed midway between the rows of eggs in a first layer in the case and so on. The filler flats used for this purpose are formed of molded pulp and while the total number of pieces required to support the eggs in the compartment is reduced, the arrangement ha: not gone into general use because of the disadvantages inherent in it. With an arrangement of this kind, it is impossible to place thirty-six eggs in each layer of a standard egg case and to overcome this, thirty eggs have been placed in each alternate layer and an extra layer of eggs ha been added to the compartment to bring its contents up to the standard fifteen dozen. Furthermore, the filler flats heretofore employed have posts extending upwardly to or above the middle of the egg, which posts interfere with an operator picking the eggs out of the pockets for candling, grading, sorting, etc. Established practices of handling eggs at the market, generally known as commercial handling, necessitate a high degree of accessibility of the eggs and the posts interposed between the eggs in the filler flats of the prior art seriously interfere with this accessibility, with the result that the breakage of eggs due to dropping by the operator is materially increased. Furthermore; the speed at which the operator can handle theeggs is reduced, thereby adding to the cost of working over the eggs at the market.

- partment, a bottom pad is first placed in the case mercialhandling of eggs by the operator in a market has been made difllcult, if not impossible.

The present invention'seeks to provide a packing material capable of supporting the eggs in the egg case in the usual five layer manner with the eggs in a layer readily accessibl for commercial handling when that layer is exposed. The present invention employs one more piece of packing material than there are layers of eggs in the compartment, that is, in a standard case there will be six pieces of packing material in each comparteggs. The posts occupy one-half of the spaces between adjacent eggs. The other half of the spaces between adjacenteggs is occupied by feet which extend downwardly below the egg cup to support the filler fiat. The posts and. feet are arranged in a pattern such that each egg in the case is one of a group of four eggs clustered around a downwardly extending foot of the filler fiat, thereby leaving these egg readily accessible to be picked up by the operator in accordance with standard commercial handling practices. The posts which extend upwardly from the egg cup terminate in a plane low enough to leave approximately two-thirds of the egg exposed above the post so that eggs which are clustered in a group around a post are nevertheless capable of being readily picked up by the operator.

posts and feet are provided with ribs depending below the general plane of the filler flats. these ribs being adapted to engage and support'the top portion of the layer of eggs disposed immediately beneath the filler fiat. In one embodiment of the invention, these ribs are centered on the center lines of the feet and posts and are disposed between the egg cups. In another embodiment of the invention, the ribs are centered upon the center lines of the egg cups themselves and project downwardly therefrom.

In building up the layers in an egg case comand a layer of eggs placed upon it. One of two 'kinds of intermediate filler flats is placed over the eggs in this layer, care being taken to select the filler fiat which has feet located so as to register with the posts on the bottom pad, thereby to support the filler fiat. A layer of eggs is then put on this filler fiat and a filler fiat of a second pattern is placed overthis layer. A third layer of eggs is placed on this second filler fiat and a filler fiat of the same pattern 'asthe first is placed over this layer of eggs. This process is continued with a top pad placed over the fifth layer of eggs in the compartment to support that layer and to engage the top of the case. The stack of filler flats and pads extends slightly above the top of the case. so as to be compressed when the lid is placed thereon, this being in accordance with the present standard practices.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, particularly Figures 1 and 2, the bottom pad i consists of a generally rectangular member adapted to fit snugly within an egg case. Located on this member are egg pockets 2 which are arranged in six rows, each row evenly spaced with respect to the other rows. There are six pockets in each row located with the same spacing as the rows so that the pockets are aligned vertically and horizontally in Figure l and also are aligned diagonally as seen in this figure. Projected downwardly from the center of each egg cup is a foot 3 which may rest on the bottom of the egg case to aid in supporting the pad thereon. The egg cups 2 are shaped to receive the tip end of the egg and are small enough that the tip end cannot project into the foot 3 so that when the egg is resting in the pad, it will be spaced from the bottom of the case a distance equal to the height of the foot. Located between the adjacent rows of egg cups are downwardly extending feet t and upwardly extending posts 5, the feet A being adapted also to rest on the bottom of the egg case to aid in supporting the member thereon.

Preferably the feet 4 extend slightly below a plane through the feet 3 so that these feet 3 will To accomplish the teachings of the present innot touch the bottom of the egg case. This arrangement adds to the resiliency of the packing material. When the compartment of the case is completely filled with five layers of eggs, the bottom pad I may give sufficiently to bring feet 3 into contact with the bottom ofthe case.

The feet and posts alternate, that is, in the row of feet and posts between the first and second rows of egg cups numbering-from the left hand edge of Figure 1 will be found first a post 5, then a foot 4, then a post 5, then a foot 4, and then another post 5. In the row of posts and feet between the second and third rows of egg cups, the posts and feet are interchanged, that is, first will be found the foot 4, then a post 5, then another foot 4, then another post 5 and finally a foot 4. This pattern is carried throughout the member.

With this arrangement, the feet and posts are fragmentary feet It and posts It, certain of alternated, not only in the -vertical rows, as seen in Figure 1, but also in the horizontal rows, and the pattern is symmetrical. The diagonal row extending om the lower left hand corner to the upper righ hand corner in Figure 1 contains only posts 5; also the diagonal row from the upper left hand to the lower right hand corner contains only posts 5. Around the edge of the member are a series of partial posts 6, certain ones of which terminate in a fiat planar upper portion 1 and" others of which terminate in a socket or opening 8 adapted to receive the foot of a member that rests upon the pad I to lock that member to the pad.

Extending between adjacent posts and feet are ribs 9 which, as will be seen in Figure 2, are generally V-shaped and project upwardly from the plane of the member. The ribs are located midway between adjacent egg cups and with the apex of the V uppermost and located on the median line between the centers of these adjacent egg cups. Ribs 9 serve to stiffen the member and also aid in protecting eggs disposed in the memher, as will presently appear.

When the bottom pad is placed in an egg case and an egg is set in each pocket, a filler fiat is placed over the egg to support .the same in the pocket. Filler flats of two different patterns are used in the case. With the bottom pad as shown in Figure 1, the first filler fiat to be used is'of the type shown in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive. This filler flat consists also of a. generally rectangular member having egg cups l located in rows the same as the rows in the bottom pad I. Located between adjacent rows of egg cups are rows of alternate feet and posts, the row between the first and second rows of egg cups from the left of Figure containing first a foot i I, then a post l2, then a foot ll, then a post l2, and finally a foot ll, while the row between the second and third rows of egg cups contains first a post l2,

- then a foot ll, then apost [2, then a foot H,

and then a post l2. It will be seen that when the filler flat is placed over the eggs in pad I, the feet I I of the filler fiat will register with the posts 5 of the bottom pad thereby to support the filler flat on the bottom pad with the plane of filler fiat substantially parallel to the plane of the pad.

It will be noted that in the pattern of the filler fiat shown in Figure 5, there is a foot in every space that the bottom pad has a post and that the row extending from the lower left hand to the upper right hand corner of Figure 5 contains only feet as does the row from the upper left hand to the lower right hand corner of this figure.

Extending between adjacent feet and posts and depending below the plane of the filler flat are ribs [3 which are generally V-shaped ribs disposed with the apex of the V downwardly and on the median line between the adjacent rows of egg cups. Also, there are ribs l4 extending transversely of the member these ribs likewise being V-shaped and extending downwardly with the apex of the V on the median line between adjacent transverse rows of egg cups.

Ribs l3 and I4 projecting below the plane of the filler fiat form 'a generally rectangular cuplike member opening downwardly from the filler flat. This cup-like member fits over the topportion of the egg supported in the cup directly beneath the filler flat embracing approximately the top fourth of the egg and serving to securely hold the egg in place in the case Located around the edge of the filler fiat are which feet I! have tongues l1 adapted to fit into the sockets] on the bottom member to secure the filler flat thereto. The posts l6 extending upwardly around the edge of the filler fiat terminate in sockets 18 that are adapted to receive the posts of a second filler flat to lock the same with respect to this filler fiat.

Each egg cup III of the filler flat receives an egg and after all of these eggs have been placed, a second filler flat is placed over this layer of eggs. As will be seen in Figures 9 and 10, filler fiat 20 also contains eg pockets 2| arranged in rows and spaced the same as the other filler flats and bottom pad. The filler fiat 20 contains a footcontains first a foot 23, then a post 22, then a foot 23 and so on.

The row extending diagonally from the lower left hand to the upper right hand corner of the filler fiat, as seen in Figure 9, contains only upwardly extending posts 22 as does the diagonal row from the lower right hand corner to the upper left hand corner. Filler fiat 20 contains also downwardly extending ribs 24 and 25 which are identical with the ribs l3 and M. Located around the edge of the filler flat 20 are fragmentary posts and feet 26 and 21, the feet 21 having tongues 28 which fit into the sockets I8 in the posts of the filler fiat shown in Figure 5.

The third layer of eggs resting in the cups in the filler fiat 20 is held in place by a filler fiat which is identical with the filler fiat l9 shown in Figure 5, and the fourth layer of eggs which rests inthe cups in this second filler fiat I9 is held in place therein by a. second filler flat of the pattern of filler flat 20 shown in Figure 9.

The fifth layer of eggs which is disposed in the cups of this second filler fiat 20 is held in place therein by a top pad, best seen in cross section in Figure 11. This pad consists of a member 30 which has downwardly extending feet 3l that are adapted to rest uponand be supported b'y the posts 22 of the second filler flat 20. Ribs 32 project downwardly from this pad and between the top portions of the eggs inthe fifth layer to support the same therein. Extending over the tops of these eggs are pad members 33 which are adpated to bear against the cover of the case to clamp the assembly therein. Around the edges of the top pad 30 are fragmentary feet which contain tongues adapted to fit into the sockets 28 of the second filler flat 20 which tongues are not shown in Figure 11 because of the location of the line along which the cross section was taken.

As will be seen best in Figure 11, the eggs in the bottom pad I resting between the upwardly readily accessible so that an operator in a market will have no difficulty in picking up two or three eggs in each hand, as is the custom in commercial handling of eggs, and the use of the teachings of the present invention, therefore, does not interfere with established practices at the markets.

Not only are the eggs in the bottom layer read ily accessible but, as will be seen in Figure 5, each egg in the filler flat is one of a group of four clustered around a foot H at the center of the cluster and as will be seen in Figure 11, the posts I2 terminate below the middle of the egg so that each egg in the layer supported upon these filler flats I9 is likewise readily accessible. eggs supported upon filler flats 20, as shown in Figure 9, are readily accessible since the posts 22 thereof terminate below the middle of the egg and with-the exception ofthe eggs in the far corners of the filler fiat, each egg is one of a group. of four clustered around a centrally locatedfoot.

of bottom and top pads is required and since these two pads vary considerably in shape, no especial marking is necessary to distingush them.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 12 to 15. inclusive, the ribs that project down from the plane of the filler fiat are located .on the median lines of the egg cups and are shaped to engage and hold the tops of the eggs. As will be seen in Figure 15, the bottom pad I is used with this embodiment of the invention.

Supported on this pad by feet 40 is the modified.

filler flat 4|. Feet 40 are arranged in rows alternating with posts 42 in the same pattern as filler fiat l9, Figure 5. The egg cups 43 are arranged in rows as before and are bisected by downwardly depending ribs 44 running in one direction and by similar ribs 45 running transversely of the ribs 44. These ribs divide the cups into a series of sections, 43a, 43b, 43c and 43d which are shaped as sections of a sphere and adapted to receive and support the tip portion of the egg.

The ribs 44 and A are generally V-shaped and the lower edge of these ribs are formed in a series of arcs 46, Figure 15, centered on the median line of the eggs over which the filler fiat is placed and shaped so as to engage and support the top portion of the eggs. With this arrangement, eggs Also, the

in the cups 2 of the pad I are supported and held apart by the ribs 44 and 45 of the filler flat 4| and the second layer of eggs is supported in cups 43 in the filler fiat and held therein by a second filler flat whichis similar to 4| except that the feet 40 and posts 42 are arranged in the pattern shown in Figure 9 rather than in the pattern of filler fiat 4|. Successive layers are built up as before with the two patterns of filler flats alternated and the top layer of eggs in the case is held in place by thetop'pad- 30 as before.

The height of posts 42 is suchthat the top surface of the post falls below the middle of the egg as before so that the eggs supported in the filler fiat are capable of being handled by commercial handling practices.

The size and shape of the bottom pad is such that it fits snugly in the compartment of an egg case and in order to facilitate removing the pad from the compartment, finger holds 50 are provided intwo or more sides of the pad. These holds being indentations in the edge of the pad permit an operator to grab the pad with several fingers of each hand and readily remove the same from the egg case. Similar hand holds 52 are provided in the filler flats l9, Figure 5, and hand of ribs and projecting contours, the pads and filler flats may be made strong without adding undue weight. This reduces the amount of pulp required in the packing material for ,an .eggcase. Further economy in pulp isrealized through the saving of the number of .pieces required to pack a case of eggs. Utilizing the device of the present invention, six members are required for each compartment of the egg case, or a total of twelve pieces for the entire case in contrast with the twenty-two individual pieces required in such packings of the prior art of which I am aware that retain the usual five layer arrangement.

Eggs packed with the material of the present invention are securely held in place in the case with an ample supply of air-ducts interposed between the eggs so that ventilation will be plentiful. The cups in which the eggs are supported leave the greater part of the eggs exposed when the filler flat is removed so that commercial handling in accordance with established practices may be employed. The posts projecting above the egg cups terminate in a plane below the middle of the egg in which position they do not interfere with commercial handling of the egg. The individual pads and filler flats may be nested together and shipment of the same is thereby facilitated.

While I have chosen to show my invention by illustrating and describing a preferred embodiment of it, I have done so by Way of example only, as there are many modifications and adaptations which can be made by one skilled in the art Within the teachings of the invention.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, what I consider new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A filler flat-for packing eggs, comprising, a plurality of egg cups arranged in evenly spaced rows with the individual cups in each row evenly spaced therein, each of said cups being adapted to receive and support an egg in upright position, a plurality of ribs projecting downwardly from the plane of said filler flat, said ribs being disposed with respect to said cups so as to engage and hold the top portion of eggs disposed below the filler fiat, feet on said filler fiat depending therefrom between certain ones of said cups and adapted to support the filler fiat, and posts extending above said filler fiat and cups between other ones of said cups to support another filler flat above said filler fiat.

2. A rectangular filler fiat, comprising, thirtysix egg cups disposed in evenly spaced rows parallel to one edge of the fiat with the cups parallel rows disposed between said egg cup rows and with the feet and posts alternating in said rows with a foot between the first cup in the first row and the second cup in the second row from said oneedge of the flat and with a post between the second cup in said first row and the third cup in said second row, and ribs depending from said flat, said ribs being of generally V cross section and being disposed with the apex of the V on the center lines through the rows of feet and posts.

3. Means for packing eggs in an egg case, comprising, a bottom pad resting on th bottom of the case and containing egg cup uniformly spaced, feet disposed beneath the pad and between certain ones of the egg cups, posts projecting upwardly from the pad between others of the egg cups, a first filler flat, feet on said fiat diwosed so as to engage the posts on the pad to support the fiat thereabove, ribs depending below the plane of the filler flat and adapted to engage eggs disposed in the cups of the pad, egg cups on the filler fiat disposed each above a cup on the pad, posts on the filler fiat extending upwardly in the remaining spaces between egg cups thereon, a second filler flat, feet on said second filler flat disposed so as to engage the posts on said first filler flat, ribs on said second filler fiat depending therefrom and adapted to enga e eggs disposed in the cups on said-first filler fiat, egg cups on the second filler flat disposed each above a cup on the first filler flat, posts on said second filler flat extending upwardly therefrom in the remaining spaces between adjacent egg cups thereon, a third flller flat duplicating said first filler fiat and disposed with its feet engaging the posts on the second filler fiat and supporting a fourth layer of eggs in the case, a fourth filler flat duplicating the second filler flat and disposed with its feet engaging the pos'ts on said third filler flat and supporting a fifth layer of eggs in the the case, a

egg case compartment comprising, one bottom pad containing thirty-six egg retaining cups, feet for supporting the pad and posts for supporting a filler flat on the pad over the eggs, four filler flats each containing thirty-six egg-retaining cups on one side and thirty-six egg supporting cups on the other side which supporting cups are each coaxial with one of the retaining cups, feet for supporting the filler flat and posts for supporting another filler fiat, said filler flats having two patterns of posts and feet, with half of the filler flats of one pattern and half of the other,

- and one top pad comprising feet for supportmeans for ing the same over thetop layer of eggs, and engaging and holding the tops of the eggs in the top layer against lateral displacement, said 'means for engaging and holding the tops of the eggs, also engaging the cover of the egg-case to hold the packing means against vertical movement in the case.

5. Means for supporting eggs against movement in any direction in an egg case compartment with each egg in each layer held upright and in vertical alignment with a corresponding egg in each of the other layers, comprising a plurality of members numbering one more than there are layers of eggs, said members comprising a top member, a bottom member and intermediate members, said top and bottom members each containing means for engaging one end 'of each egg in one layer, means for engaging the case, and means for engaging an intermediate member, and each intermediate member containing mean for engaging one end of the eggs in one layer, means included in said latter means for engaging th opposite end of the vertically aligned eggs in the adjacent layer, depending means for engaging the member below the intermediate member, and upwardly extending means for en aging the member above the intermediate member.

6. A filler flat for supporting e s in an egg case compartment comprising, a generally planar member, a plurality of egg cups in said member arranged in parallel rows, ribs centered on the median line of said cups, depending from said I member and shaped to form with the egg cups top pad disposed over the fifth layer of 288 and rib means on said top pad adapted to engage the to? portions of the eggs in the fifth layer in said case.

4. Means for packing fifteen dozen eggs in an inverted cup co-axially aligned with said egg cups, feet depending below the member to support the same over and in engagement with a layer of eggs, and posts extending above the member to support a second filler fiat that is over and in engagement with a layer of eggs supported in said egg cups.

JESSE R. GRANT. 

